60 MAINE AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. I907. 



As a rule, dwarf pears will come into bearing at from 3 to 

 5 years from planting; the check to growth, resulting from the 

 slow growing quince roots, having the ustfal effect of inducing 

 fruit production. Heavy clay soils, if well drained, will sustain 

 the quince roots, and produce vigorous healthy trees ; while on 

 pear roots the results would often be unsatisfactory. Care 

 must be used in planting, however, and the annual growth must 

 be cut back at least one-half every year. The ease of managing 

 these small trees, and of harvesting the fruit is self evident. 



Despite the attractive features of the dwarfs, in very many 

 cases only failure and disappointment will result from their use. 

 That this failure is, in many cases, preventable, is shown by 

 the results in the Station orchard. 



The requisites to success in the management of dwarf pears 

 may be briefly summarized as follows. (1) Set with care, 

 on well drained soil, digging large deep holes, and setting the 

 trees so that the point of union between the cion and the quince 

 root is at least 4 or 5 inches below the surface of the ground, 

 when the holes are filled. (2) Prune the tops back to mere 

 stubs at time of setting, and each year remove at least half of 

 the annual growth. This annual pruning may be done at any 

 time in the late fall, winter, or early spring. (3) Cut, at 

 least a foot below point of apparent injury, and burn at once, 

 every branch that shows indications of pear blight. (4) 

 Spray, at least 3 times during the season, with Bordeaux mix- 

 ture and arsenate of lead as indicated in the circular if informa- 

 tion, "How to Fight Apple Enemies." 



PRUNING NOTES. 



One of the most important characteristics of any plant is the 

 fact that its various parts are unlike; that each branch is, in a 

 measure, independent and capable of becoming a new individual. 

 On this fact rests the whole philosophy of the pruning of plants. 



A tree is essentially a colony of individuals. Every branch 

 is endeavoring to do what every other branch does, — that is, to 

 bear leaves, flowers and fruit. So every branch competes with 

 every other branch, and there are more branches, or germs of 

 branches' — buds — than can possibly be supported upon any tree. 

 There is, then, a struggle among the branches ; all are not 

 necessary to the life of the tree and the removal of the useless 



